ON YOUR MARK: WEEK 8 DAY 2

Mark 8:14–21 

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.”20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” 

One of the secrets to sleight of hand, or illusion, is what is known as “misdirection.” Misdirection, for example, is when a performer makes a big deal out of what is going on with his left hand so that he can distract the audience while he is using his right hand to make the coin “disappear.” 

While taking a boat ride away from an incredibly full day or two, Jesus’ disciples were distracted by something Jesus said. While talking about “yeast of the Pharisees,” the disciples got distracted by bread, and their thoughts were on literal bread.

In the Bible, “yeast” is code for sin! During the Passover celebration every year, every family searched their house for any yeast that may have been there and swept it out of their houses so that their house would be “clean.” Jesus was telling the disciples to be careful of the “yeast” of the Pharisees and Herod, not wanting the disciples to get caught up in their sin. 

Today pray the prayer of David, found in Psalm 139:

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting.